Kerby Anderson

One song we often sing during the Christmas season is “What Child Is This?” William Chatterton Dix wrote the lyrics in 1865 when he was an insurance company manager and had been struck by a severe illness. After a spiritual renewal in his life, he wrote a number of hymns. This one was set to the tune of the traditional English folk song, “Greensleeves.”

“What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.”

The hymn then asks who this child is that was found by the shepherds, not in a palace but in a manger. “Why lies He in such a mean estate, where ox and donkeys are feeding?” The next verse reminds us, Jesus was essentially born a peasant king.

“So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come, peasant, king, to own him. The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him. Raise, raise a song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby. Joy, joy for Christ is born, the babe, the Son of Mary.”

While the shepherds must have wondered who was born in a manger, this verse reminds us that the wise men apparently believed Him to be royalty and brought Him gifts. Both the shepherds and the wise men had access to baby Jesus because He wasn’t born in a palace that would have guards and bureaucratic protocols.

Isn’t this a great picture for us today? All of us have access to Jesus and merely need to place our trust and faith in Him.